Traditional Martial Arts Training Enhances Balance And

& P ga hys o ic Matthews et al., J Yoga Phys Ther 2016, 6:1 Y a f l o T l h a e DOI: 10.4172/2157-7595.1000228 n r a r p u y o J Journal of Yoga & Physical Therapy ISSN: 2157-7595 Research Article Article OpenOpen Access Access Traditional Martial Arts Training Enhances Balance and Neuromuscular Control in Female Modern Martial Artists Martyn J Matthews*, Helen Matthews, Mohamed Yusuf and Caron Doyle School of Health Sciences, University of Salford, UK Abstract To investigate the effects of Traditional Martial Arts training on markers of balance and neuromuscular control in modern martial artists, twenty-three female modern martial arts practitioners (mean age 37.17 ± 11.5), were divided into two matched groups: Intervention (n = 11) and Control (n = 12). The Intervention group participated in a 30 min Traditional Martial Arts training session, twice a week for four weeks. Reach measurements from the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) were analysed to determine whether improvements had occurred. Pair-wise comparisons revealed significant (p = 0.00) improvements in SEBT reach for the intervention group with mean scores improving for both dominant and non-dominant legs (517 ± 18 to 592 ± 21 and 487 ± 18 to 565 ± 20). No significant differences were noted in the control group. The results from the SEBT tests in this study suggest that the modern martial artist can show improvements in balance performance after an intervention of four weeks traditional martial arts training. This presents the possibility that traditional martial art training methods could be incorporated into sport specific injury prevention training programmes for Modern Martial Arts. Keywords: Balance; Proprioception; Neuromuscular control; Martial in the shape of forms or katas, with this training showing improvements arts; Injury prevention to proprioception and neuromuscular control in the elderly [24- 26]. This raises the possibility that TMA training has the potential to Introduction improve markers of injury risk in a functional manner. Effective joint stability during dynamic sport specific movements TMA forms consist of a combination of changing postures that are is underpinned by both afferent, and proprioceptive, information from performed uninterrupted and smoothly, in a half squat posture, with the ligament and joint mechanoreceptors and the coordinated efferent constant weight transference through bilateral and unilateral stances response, or neuromuscular control that maintains joint stabilisation [24-26] (Figure 1). In line with other proprioception and neuromuscular through the activation of supporting muscles [1-3]. Without adequate control training programmes, EMG analysis of TMA movements reveal proprioception and neuromuscular control, joint stabilisation relies continuous co-contractions of prime mover and stabilising muscles purely on the passive restraint provided by the ligament and joint requiring high levels of strength and endurance [27,28]. Further to this, structures, leading to functional instability [4]. This results in excessive the deep stances and increased range of motion required during TMA and repetitive loading of these passive structures that can lead to forms training, activates the type three mechanoreceptors, specifically microtrauma of the involved tissues that, over time, can result in chronic abundant within the ankle ligaments, which are activated only at the inflammation, weakening of the structures, and eventual rupture [5,6]. extremes of motion [2]. Optimising proprioception and neuromuscular control around a joint, Dynamic neuromuscular training, involving in-depth analysis of therefore, is essential to ensure correct movement biomechanics and the activity’s biomechanics, identification and subsequent correction improve markers of performance [7,8]. of faulty movement patterns of the athlete, and constant monitoring This is particularly so in female athletes, who are more prone to and feedback from the instructor, both during and after training, has injuries of the knee and ankle than their male counterparts, primarily been identified as an effective injury prevention strategy in high-risk due to a number of predisposing anatomical and biomechanical factors populations [10]. The teaching style and the method of practicing [9-12]. Of these, several neuromuscular and biomechanical risk factors, TMA forms, with body awareness and instructor feedback emphasised such as the tendency to land from jumps in hip extension, dynamic throughout, adheres to this philosophy [10]. When performing TMA knee valgus, foot pronation, and a time lag in hamstring activation (Tai Chi) forms, each stance should be moved through in a reflective compared to males, can be corrected by appropriate training [9-16]. manner, concentrating fully on each of the body's positions, with the instructor meticulous in their corrections, providing continuous In order to build robust athletes that can withstand the rigours of training and competition, injury prevention training programmes adopt a multifactorial approach using varying combinations of *Corresponding author: Martyn J Matthews, Directorate of Sport, Exercise, and strength, balance, proprioception, stretching, jump landing, core Physiotherapy, School of Health Sciences, University of Salford, UK, Tel: 44 161 295 training, and education [16-19]. In a multifactorial programme, the 2298; E-mail: [email protected] effectiveness of each element is difficult to quantify however, when Received January 14, 2016; Accepted February 24, 2016; Published February interventions are evaluated by testing each one separately, functionally 29, 2016 based proprioceptive and technical training interventions appear most Citation: Matthews MJ, Matthews H, Yusuf M, Doyle C (2016) Traditional Martial effective at reducing both injury recurrence and predictors of injury Arts Training Enhances Balance and Neuromuscular Control in Female Modern [19-23]. Martial Artists. J Yoga Phys Ther 6: 228. doi:10.4172/2157-7595.1000228 It can be argued that Traditional Martial Arts (TMA) training, such Copyright: © 2016 Matthews MJ, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits as the forms practiced in Tai Chi, embeds similar proprioception and unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the neuromuscular control challenges into their conditioning programmes original author and source are credited. J Yoga Phys Ther ISSN: 2157-7595 JYPT, an open access journal Volume 6 • Issue 1 • 1000228 Citation: Matthews MJ, Matthews H, Yusuf M, Doyle C (2016) Traditional Martial Arts Training Enhances Balance and Neuromuscular Control in Female Modern Martial Artists. J Yoga Phys Ther 6: 228. doi:10.4172/2157-7595.1000228 Page 2 of 5 Figure 1: Wu Bu Quan form including start position, horse stance, bow and arrow stance, kick and punch, horse stance and punch, twisted stance, transition stance, single leg stance, crane step, cat stance. feedback on the biomechanics of the student [24]. Any improvement approach subjects was sought via letter to the Chief Instructor of North gained during proprioception exercise is likely due in part to the West Chinese Kickboxing. attention required during such exercise, with repetitive training leading to the unconscious control [21]. Experimental design A repeated measures experimental design was employed. The In contrast to TMA, Modern Martial Arts (MMA) training methods independent variables were the group conditions of intervention and tend to focus upon fitness and fighting techniques and often omit TMA control. The dependent variable was the measured reach in the Star forms practice from their training, finding them too rigid, uniform and Excursion Balance Test (SEBT). Significance levels were set apriori at P time consuming to be of relevance to competitive practice [28,29]. It is < 0.05. To avoid issues of inter-tester reliability, a single tester conducted therefore possible that these athletes are missing some of the benefits, all tests. The data collection and intervention took place at North West in terms of proprioception and neuromuscular control, arising from Chinese Kickboxing (N.W.C.K.B.) Headquarters. TMA training. From the 25 participants who volunteered, 23 completed the whole Whilst previous studies have linked improved proprioception with study. Participants were divided into two matched groups based on TMA forms training in elderly individuals there are no comparable length of time training and level of achievement. studies relating to younger, active individuals [24-26]. Our purpose was to explore the effect of TMA training methods, particularly the use These were an intervention group (n = 11) that undertook a of traditional forms training, on proprioception and neuromuscular four-week TMA forms training intervention that replaced some (but control in female modern martial artists. not all) of their normal MMA training; and a control group (n = 12) that continued with their usual MMA training. Dominant and non- Method dominant legs were recorded with dominant leg defined as the preferred stance (balancing) leg when executing a kick. Participants Instrumentation and procedures Twenty-five female modern martial artists, with no previous history of TMA training, no previous head injury or concussion in the last six The Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) analyses postural control, months, and no acute lower limb injuries, were recruited for this study. placing demands

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